Web roll supporting and controlling mechanism



@Maman Auw. 2 1932. H. LANG wBB ROLL SUPPORTING AND GONTROLLING MEcHAmsM Filed April 22, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l m T. N E V N I "H, I ANG WEB'ROLL SUPPORTING AND GONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed April 22. V1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 f ZINVENTOR.

ATToR Y.

Aug. 2, 1932, H. LANG WEB ROLL SUXPORTING AND CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed April 22, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 M INVENTOR.

ATTOR y 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTO EY H. LANG WEB ROLL SUPPORTING AND CONTROLLING MEGHANISM Filed April 22, 1929 Aug. 2, 1932.

H. LANG Aug. 2, 1932.

WEB ROLL SUPPORTING AND CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed April 22, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

HUBERT LANG, OF CHICAGO,

Patented Aug. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES APA'rI- z'irr vorricl:

ILLINOIS, JeissIcrNoP. To Goss PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, A CoRPonA'rroN 0F. ILLINOIS WEB ROLL SUIPPORTING AN CONTROLLING MECHANISMjl Application led April 22,

The invention relates to new and .useful improvements in web roll mechanisms and more particularly to means for handling and supporting web rolls,-inc1uding vari-width rolls, for registering the rolls and for gov-erning the feeding of the .drawn-off webs, and finds a broad field'of usefulness in vrapid rotary printing presses and other Vweb-using machines, which employ heavy web rolls and run at high speeds. v

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the sam-e being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, construction, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to eX- plain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings z' s Fig.V l is a fragmentary elevation, with parts broken away, of a mechanism embodying the invention; j

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the mechanism, taken on lineQ-Q of Fig.-3;

Fig. 3 is an elevation, and partial section hrough a web roll, taken on the line 3-3 of Figjt is a vertical section taken on the line line 4--1 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. l.; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3.

The invention is directed to novel and useful means for handling, alining, rotatably supporting, laterally registering and braking web rolls of paper and other material, and for effecting these functions with web rolls of various widths, the web .beingusually drawn off under tension and also usually at high: and varying speedsby the web-con- 1929. serial No. 357,096.

suming machine. The invention .is further directed to providing such a mechanism which is unusually adequate and eflicient for performing all-of these functions separately and conjointly, and without causing disturbance or necessity for adjustment of one mechanism by reason of the operation or adjustment of other of the mechanisms or means.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism which renders unnecessary the ordinary web roll supporting spindle or mandrel, with the necessity of fastening thereto a brake pulley, bringing said pulley into proper relation with the brake mechanism of the press, and later removing the brake pulley from the spindle or mandrel of the exhaustedA roll.` By my invention a web roll is automatically and positively positioned with respect to the mechanism, is quickly operatively mounted in its journal supports, is very quickly and readily brought into lateral registration with therprinting press cylinders orV other web-using machine, for web rolls of kall widths, and is immediately inproper relation with the braking or tension Vcontrolling mechanism, and an exhausted roll is removed from-the press or other web-using machine with a minimum of time and trouble.

The invention in its entirety comprises means for supporting a fresh web roll which `has no spindle but only an axial orifice or tube, and bringing it with certainty to an initial position with respect to the mechanism, and also means are provided for easily lifting the fresh web roll into registry with Vthe supporting spindles. A pair of rotatable spindles are provided for receiving, and-engaging in,lthe ends of thek axial orifice of the web roll after it has been moved intol other, to accommodate rolls of web kof various widths. The supports for these spindles are very accurately aXi'allysmovable so as to readily and nicely bring a web roll into transverse registry with the plates on a printing press cylinder, or into like relation with any other kind of web-using machine. Braking and tension-controlling means are provided in connection with one of the spindles, to control the payingl oil ot the web in harmony with the varying speec and other requirements and conditions of .the printing press or other web-using machine. The removal of the core ot an exhausted web rollis eilected b y a simple movement of one of the supporting spindles.

The foregoing general description, and the Jfollowing detailed desorption as well, of a present preferred embodiment or" the invention are explanatory and exemplary ol the invent-ion, but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustrated'by way of example in the accompanying drawings, the invention shown applied to double web roll positioning, hoisting, supporting, registering and controlling mechanism, such as is used on rapid rotary printing presses and elsewhere, and wherein the lead end et a fresh web may be attached to a nearly ef;- hausted web by a flying panter or in other manner so as to disturb or retardthe webusing machine as li tie as possible.

In said exemplarily embodied form, the

general frame structure comprises vertically disposed I-'beains 1, at either side et' the press, and horizontally-disposed'1l-beams 2 thereabove and supported thereby either side. Bolted to the web of the vertically-disposed I-beam 1 on one side (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and is an upper supporting .bracket plate 7, and a corresponding bracket plate 8 is bolted to the corresponding I-beam on the other side. There are likewise a pair ot( similar or corresponding lower supporting bracket plates, a plate V9 being bolted to the I-beam beneath the plate 7, and a plate 10 being bolted to the other I-beam beneath the bracket plate 8. These four bracket plates carry the cross supports on which the web roll carrying members are movablg7 and adjustably mounted.

Referring now to the embodied mechanism for supporting and registering one of the web supply rolls, two independently mov,- able frame members, on either of which a web roll engaging, rotatable spindle is journaled, is provided. The trames have a relatively very wide base, which is slidably supported on two ixed supporting and guiding members to give rigidity and precision to the mechanism. As so embodied, a trans versely-disposed guide and support in the form of a rod 17 is mounted at either end in apertured bosses 18 and 19, formed respectively on the supporting plates 7 and 8,

'the rods 17 being held against yrotation by suitable means such as a spline 2O within one of the bearing supports. The rod 17 is V.ou the upper part of the supporting bracket plates 9 and 10. The rod is held in lixed lposition by any suitable means, such as clamping screws 26, threaded into the bosses and 'engaging Vthe rod.

A. supporting and spindle-carrying frame member 31, of the general form precedingly described, for one end of the web roll is mounted on the rods 1'? an d 23, to slide therealong to accommodate web rolls ot dillerent widths. This supporting or carrying member has a sleeve 32 mounted on and slidable along the rod 1'4"'. The sleeve 32 and all the other corresponding sleeves are relatively very long, and thereby have a long bearing on their supporting and guiding members, such as the rod 17. This cooperates with the wide-apart bearings of the spindle bearing trames on the supports and guides 17 and 23 to give a very iirm, rigid and precise bearing and support in all directions.

As so embodied, an arm 33-is integral with and extends outwardly and downwardly :trom the sleeve 32 to, and is iixed to or integralwith, a central, cylindrical, axiallyapertured bearing hub 34. A sleeve 35, corresponding to sleeve 32, is slidably mounted on shaft 23, and there is an arm 36 integral therewith, extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom, and likewise integral with the journal sleeve or hub 34. This frame, supported and guided by, and slidable along supports 17 and 23, constitutes a rigid support for the spindle which is rotatably journaled in hub 34, and engages one end of the axial orifice of the web roll. l prefer to make the roll-supporting spindle on this side longitudinally stationary, and accordingly a spindle 38 is rotatably mounted in the central aperture of the journal hub or sleeve 34. To' prevent longitudinal motion of the spindle there is provided a collar 39, fixed to spindle 33 on the inner face of hub 34. At its outer end the spindle projects trom hub 34, and a collar 40 is fixed thereon by suitable means such as a pin 41. The spindle is thus rotatable in its journal, but is held against longitudinal movement.

The supporting and journaling means for the other end oit the web roll are generally si allar, but the web roll-supporting spindle longitudinally movable, being retractable o receive the web roll therebetween, and

lien reversely movable to engage the axial 'ritice and to clamp the web roll between and othe two spindles. 'The braking or tension- I controlling means are also'applied to one of the spindles, and preferably but optionally journaled in the hub 51, and the rear end of the spindleprojects from th-e outer end of the hub, and has a final brake pulley carrying portion 58.

` 'The brake pulley 59 is fixed thereon to rotate therewith by suitable means such as a key 60. The brake mechanism may be of any known or other suitable form, and is not shown in full detail. As shown, it comprises arcuate brake shoes 65 and 66, pivoted at 67 and 68, respectively, to brake lever 69 and 70.

'5 The brake vlevers are pivotally mounted to be longitudinally slidable on a supporting rod 71, which rod is fixed to and projects outwardly from the bottom part 73 .of the spindle journal hub 51. A suitable tension regulating device 7 4 for the brake shoe levers is shown. It will be further understood that the particulars of the brake mechanism, and the connections therefrom to an automatic web tension controlling means,may be of any i known or other suitable form.

Means are provided for longitudinally moving the spindle 57 in one direction to receive a web roll and thereafter in the op'- `posite direction to force the web roll firmly onto both supporting spindles and thereby to rotatably clamp them together. As embodied (Figs. 1, 3 and 4), an annular groove 77 is formed near the outer end of the spindle 57. A yoked lever 78 is pivotally supported at 7 9 upon a bracket 80, which is fixed to an extends outwardly from the spindle hubY 51'. Pins 81 are mounted in the outer ends 'of the yoked part of the lever 78, and extend into the annular groove 77 in the spindle 57, whereby the lever may move the spindle longitudinally while leavingit free to rotate. Any suitable means may be provided for firm- 1y holding the lever 78 in the web roll clamping position, and in other positions as well.

f rlhe spindle journal hubs 34 and 51 are likewise relatively very long and furnish an extensive journal bearing for the roll supportingspindles and any'side thrust due to the load is correspondingly widely distribyuted 'and practically nullied. Furthermore,

the spindle journal hubs are connected to the integral supporting frames very close to their inner or load carrying ends, thereby also con- `ducing to thebalancing and minimizing of the load strains.

In the embodied form of means for adapting the mechanism tofull width or fractional width web rolls, such as three-quarter width, half-width or quarter-width rolls (Figs. 1, 3 and 4), the supporting sleeves-32 and 35, while having a very close fit on their respective supporting rods 17 and 23 areslidable longitudinally thereon; rllhe sleeve 32 is provided with means for clamping it to its yrod 17 in any desired longitudinal position,

and for this purpose a clamping screw 85 is shown, screw-threaded in the sleeve and engaging the rod. By reason of the integral or iixed structure of this entire carrying frame,

the sleeve need not be provided with clamping means but will slide along its rod 23. Similarly, at the other side, the sleeves 49 and 53 likewise have very close fits on the rods 17 and 23, but are longitudinally slidable, and a clamping screw 86 is provided, screw-threaded in thev sleeve 49 and engaging rod 17. Thus either or both of the spindle carrying frames are independently slidable on the guiding and supporting members 17 and 23, and therewith all the interconnected mechanisms, to accommodate web -rolls of di'erent widths. e Y

Means are provided for effecting accurate 'axis-wise or lateral-registry yof the journaled web roll with respect to the printingA plates on the press cylinder or the cooperating parts of any other web-usng machine. `As embodied (Figs. 3, 4 and 7), said means comprise a screw rod 87, screw-threaded into the end of the shaft 17, which lshaft it will be recalled is longitudinally slidable in its fixed bearings 18 and19. At its outer end, screw rod 87 is journaled in an aperture in a bracket 88, which is fixed to and extends outwardly from one of the vertically-disposed side pillars 1 of the frame. On the inner side of its bearing in bracket 88, the screw-rod is provided with a collar 89, pinned to the rod, and onV the outer end of the screw-rod a hand wheel 90 is pinnet thereto, for the purpose of turning same and in cooperation with the collar 89 to prevent longitudinal movement of the screw-rod in its bearing. Thus, by turning the hand wheel 90, a very accurate and minute longitudinal movement is imparted to the rod 17, and by reason of the sleeves 32 and 49 being fixed thereto, the entire web roll supporting structure, and the web roll therewith, are given a likewise niinute and accurate lateral or axis-wise positioning movement.

The-mechanism for supporting the other web roll may be similar'to, or the sameas, that already described, the exhausted web roll being removed from one mechanism, and a 'full fresh web roll substituted therefor while the web roll on the other mechanism is being run through the press or other webusing machine in the usual and vvell-known manner. The other web roll mechanism has iso supporting means comprising centrallyapertured supporting bosses 99 and 100, formed in the lower parts of the supporting bracket plates 7 and 9. A transversely-drsposed supporting and guiding' shaft 101 is mounted therein, this shaft corresponding to the shaft 17 on the opposite mechanism. Likewise supporting bosses 102 and 103V are formed respectively in the lower parts of the corresponding supporting bracket plates 8 and 10. A transversely-disposed supporting and guiding shaft 104 is mounted therein, and corresponds to the shaft 23 on the opposite side of the mechanism. The remainder of the mechanism may be the same as that on the opposite side and already described in detail, and need not be described again, the same reference numerals being applied thereto.

In accordance with certain features of the invention, means are provided for a curately preliminarily positioningl a fresh web supply roll with reference to the herein-before described mechanism, and in conjunction therewith power means for lifting a web roll into alinement with the journal. spindles so that by movement of a supporting spindle the web roll may be clamped in feeding or unwinding position. As embodied, (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 ant G) a web roll supporting member or hoist 111 is in position beneath the roll-supporting mechanism, and is provided with a concave roll supporting upper face 112. This face 112 is parti-cylindrical and of substantially equal radius with the web roll and is on center both angularly and longitudinally with respect 'to the web roll carrying spindles. A fresh web roll placed on hoist 111 is therefore centered accurately with respect to the spindles and just below them.

In the embodied form of roll hoisting means, guides 113 and 114 are provided at either side of the webroll hoist 111, which center the web roll longitudinally, and the hoist laterally and thereby the web roll angularly. At either side of either end of the support and hoist 111, and fixed to and ei;- tending upwardly therefrom, are 1hooks 115 and 116. A bail or spa-nner 117 has eyes 113 and 119 at its ends which hook over the hooks 115 and 110, the bail projecting upwardly and being provided with a spacing and reinforcing cross brace 120. vfixed to the upper end of the bail 117 igs. 1, 2 and 5) is a cable 122, which is wound on a drum 123, i'iXed on a shaft 124, the shaft 124 being journaled in supporting brackets 125, 126 and 127, fixed to the frame structure. collar 123 is fixed on the shaft 124 at one side of the journal bearing 126 to prevent longitudinal movement of the shaft in one direction. At the opposite end of the web roll support and hoist, similar mechanism to that already described is provided, which need not be described again, the same referv139 of the gear 137.

ence numerals being applied thereto. The cable 122 of this mechanism is wound about a drum 135 fined to the shaft 124 so that both ends of the web hoist will be raised together.

The embodied form of power driven means for raising and lowering the web roll hoists is common to both web-roll mechanisms and operates them alternatively by means of clutch mechanisms. As embodied, it comprises a worm-wheel or other suitable gear wheel 136, fixed to the outer end of the shaft 124 to rotate therewith, the hub thereof abutting on the ournal bearing 125 and preventing longitudinal motion of the shaft 124 in the opposite direction. 1n mesh with the gear wheel 135 of one of the web roll hoists is a worm or one tooth gear, or other corresponding mechanism 137, which is sleeved loosely on a shaft 133, and a clutch jaw 139 is likewise fixed to, the sleeve of the gear wheel. .Shaft 133 is journaled in series of brackets 140 carried by the top frame of the machine. Mounted on shaft 133 to rotate therewith, but to be slidable therealong, is a clutch jaw 141, which is movable into and out of engaging relation with the clutch jaw For the purpose of moving this clutch jaw into and out of engagement, the hub thereof is provided with an annular groove 143, which is embraced by a yoke lever 144, having pins projecting into the groove 143. Lever 144 is pivotally supported at 145 on the machine frame, and has fixed thereto a hand lever 146. Fixed on shaft 133 is a gear wheel 147, which meshes with a pinion 143 fixed on the shaft 149 of a motor 150, supported on the machine frame.

On the opposite side a worm wheel, or one-tooth gear, r other suitable gear wheel 157 is sleeved loosely on shaft 133, and has a clutch 153 likewise flied to said sleeve. A cooperating clutch jaw 159 is rotatable with, but slidable along shaft 138 into and out of engagement with the clutch jaw 153 to rotate the gear 157 or to permit it to remain idle. The actuating mechanism for the clutch jaw 159 is similar to that for clutch jaw 141 for the hoist on the opposite side and need not be described in further detail. This mechanism is provided with a similar clutch shifting handle 160.

The manner of operation of the various parts of the mechanism has been described in detail herein before, and may be summarized as follows: y

A fresh web supply roll is delivered to the roll hoist 111, and is automatically positioned thereon with respect to the roll-supporting spindles by the parti-cylindrical top face 112, the hoist and roll being maintained in proper position and alinement by the guides 113 and 114, while being free to move upwardly and downwardly. The sleeves 32 and 49 are moved along the support-ing rod 117 in either direction to correspond to the Width of a full width roll or a parti-width roll, and in the case of the latter, to correspond also to the manner of its feed into the press. That is, with respect to the length of the press cylinder; that is, a three-quarter width web might feed two sheets to either side of the slitter and one to the other, and a half-width roll might be led to the former, or it might be slit and a half-width led to either former, or any other desired relation might be elfected.

By means of the clutch-operating h and levers 146 or 160, either clutch may be thrown in, and the corresponding hoist 111 raised until the axial orifice of the roll is in alinement with the roll-supporting spindles 38 and 57. The spindle 57 has been previously withdrawn by means of the hand lever 78, and after the web roll is in axial alinement, the lever 78 is moved to force both spindles 38 and 57 tightly into either end of the axial orifice of the web roll, the spindles thereby firmly frictionally engaging the web roll, the roll and the spindles thereafter rotating together.

The brake pulley and brake are in permanent relation with respect to the spindle 57, and move therewith, slidingalong the rod 71. Suitable connections to provide for lat.- eral movement of connections from the brake mechanism to automatic tension mechanisml may be provided of any suitable form, such,

for example, as is shown in copending application, Ser. Nol 302,460, led August 28, 1928. The accurate-lateral or axis-wise registration of the webwith the printing plates or other corresponding instrumentalities is effected by the hand-wheel 90 and cooperating mechanism, as already described. After a web roll is exhausted, the central tube or waste portion may be removed merely by moving the lever 78 and withdrawing the spindle 67, and without disturbing the relations or the mechanism of the brake and its control.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims Without departing from the prin- Vciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is v 1. A web roll mechanism including in combination a plurality of vertically and transversely disposed supports, a pair of carriers, each movably mounted upon said supports and extending laterally therefrom, and devices mounted on said carriers for engaging either end of the axial orifice of a web roll.

2. A web roll mechanism including in combination a plurality of vertically and transversely disposed supports, a pair of carriers,

each separately movably mounted upon said supports and extending laterally-therefrom, and devices mountedon said carriers for engaging either end of the axial orifice of a web roll. l j

3. A web roll mechanism including in combination a plurality of vertically and transdevices mounted on said carriers for engagw ing either end of the axial orifice of a web roll and means for fastening said carriers respectively in position on one of `said supports.

5. A web roll mechanism including in combination a' plurality of pairs of transversely disposed supports located closely contiguous to each other, a pair of web roll carriers mounted for transverse movement on onepair of supports, and a pair of web roll carriers mounted for transverse movement on the other pair of supports and extending in a different direction from said first pair of web roll carriers. Y

6. A web roll mechanism including in combination a plurality of pairs of vertically and transversely disposed supports located in approximately a vertical plane, a pair of web roll carriers movably mounted on one pair of supports and extending transversely therefrom, and a pair of web roll carriers movably mounted on the other pair of said supports and extending transversely therefrom in the opposite direction.

'7. A web roll mechanism including in combination a pair of supporting devices for enga ging either end of the axial orifice of a web roll, another pair of supporting devices for engaging either end of the axial orifice of a web roll, carrying'means for one pair of web roll supporting devices, carrying means for the other pair of web roll supporting devices,

a common support for said two carrying means, the carrying means being independently movable on said support to accommodate them to web rolls of different widths.`

8. A web roll mechanism including in combination a pair of supporting devices for engaging either end ofthe axial orifice of a web roll, another pair of supporting devices for engaging either end of the axial orifice of a i web roll, carrying means for one pair of web roll supporting devices, carrying means forthe other pair of web roll supporting devices, a common supportl for said two carrying means, and means for mnutely moving either carrying means axially independently of the other t-o register its web roll relatively to the web using machine.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HUBERT LANG. 

